Hi thanks for your reply. I will be doing the tourist thing and visiting the main sights. Budget wise about $500 depending on the lens. I already have a 55mm prime and the standard 18-55mm but was also thinking about a wideangle for the buildings and lndscape.

If you don't want to be swaping your lens a bunch 2 good "walk around" lenses are the 18-135 and the 15-85. The 18-135 will be more in your budget but the 15-85 will give you a wider shot and has much better optics, so if you can spare the extra cost. It will be my next purchase.

For a wide-angle lens, you may struggle with that budget - the second-hand market would be your best hope of getting a lens within that budget.

As HikingMike suggested, the 15-85mm offers a decent compromise to get a wider angle (the extra 3mm at the wide angle gives you more coverage than you'd guess) although you'd probably be looking at close to $600 for a used one.

I like the look and idea of the 15-85mm. I could stretch the budget to get there, but do you think the 15mm is wide enough for architecture shots, church steeples, bridges, landscapes and the like? Otherwise I have been looking at the 10-22mm wide angle to suppliment my standard 18-55mm. Although changing lenses while on the move sounds like it could be inconvenient.

I like the look and idea of the 15-85mm. I could stretch the budget to get there, but do you think the 15mm is wide enough for architecture shots, church steeples, bridges, landscapes and the like? Otherwise I have been looking at the 10-22mm wide angle to suppliment my standard 18-55mm.

It could be. Like I said before, it's a compromise but not a replacement for what most would consider to be a true wide-angle lens on a crop-frame body such as the 10-22mm. The 15mm wide angle is the equivalent to the 24mm full-frame focal length, which is a traditional focal length.

The Canon 10-22mm would be a great choice for architecture. Tokina has an 11-16mm f/2.8, which is pin sharp but it is very pricey.

ColD wrote:

Although changing lenses while on the move sounds like it could be inconvenient.

Your mileage may vary. If you have a suitable bag, I don't think it's much of a hassle but some would regardless.

Unfortunately, convenience (in the context of having a wide focal range, i.e. not having to change lenses) and image quality are usually mutually exclusive.

Thanks all. I was thinking of the sigma 17-50mm f2.8 but am now moving towards the canon 15-85mm as it has a greater range and may offer more flexability (although a little slow I also have a 50mm f1.. I will also look at the sigma or canon 10-20mm. Are these good choices for travel lenses or are there anyother reccomendations?